Italy’s Fashion Time Capsule: What’s Inside Florence’s Rotating Dress Exhibit?

In the heart of Florence, Italy, the historic Palazzo Pitti’s Fashion and Costume Museum is breathing new life into 20th-century fashion.

After a five-year closure, the museum reopened with a unique approach: rotating restored vintage garments annually from its vast archive. Visitors now walk through immersive rooms where fashion intersects with fine art, featuring gowns by icons like Yves Saint Laurent, Pierre Cardin, and Roberto Capucci, some on public display for the very first time.

The current exhibit begins with the rebellious spirit of 1920s flappers, moves through the glam of the interwar years, and arrives at futuristic ‘60s and glittering ‘80s styles. Period paintings by Galileo Chini and Felice Casorati enhance the storytelling, blurring the lines between fabric and canvas.

Rotating the garments not only preserves them but ensures the museum remains a bridge from ancient collections to contemporary design.